Wireless telemedicine for the delivery of specialist paediatric services to the bedside.

A mobile interactive online health system was used to conduct virtual ward rounds at a regional hospital which had no specialist paediatrician The system was wireless which allowed telepaediatric services to be delivered direct to the bedside Between December 2004 and May 2005 43 virtual ward rounds were coordinated between specialists based in Brisbane and local staff at the Gladstone Hospital Eighty six consultations were provided for 64 patients The most common conditions included asthma 27 chest infections 12 gastroenteritis 10 and urinary tract infections 10 In the majority of cases there were partial 67 or complete changes 11 in the clinical management of patients Specialist services were offered by a team of 13 clinicians at the Royal Children s Hospital 10 general paediatricians two physiotherapists and one registered nurse Feedback from all consultants involved in the service and local staff in Gladstone was extremely positive In 43 videoconference calls there were three technical problems probably due to an intermittent mains power supply at the regional hospital There appears to be potential for other rural and regional hospitals to adopt this model of service delivery